By DADA AYOKHAI
After days and weeks of speculation, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe finally threw his hat into the Edo governorship race
to further swelled the number of aspirants from Edo North on the All Progressive Congress, APC platform by one.
By this singular act of daring the odds, Dr. Umakhihe thus put paid to all conjectures swirling around his ambition to bid for the coveted position as governor of Edo State
Dr. Umakhihe hails from the Otuo community in the Owan East council area of Edo north district.
. The newly retired permanent secretary becomes the first APC guber aspirant to declare his interest through a rally which took place in Afuze, the administrative headquarters of Owan East LGA.
Other aspirants have so far been unobtrusive in pursuing their ambition probably given to the non-committal stance of the APC state leadership about zoning
The large crowd of APC supporters and other enthusiasts who thronged the venue of the declaration was described by political pundits as a big plus to the ability of Dr. Umakhihe and his team to pull the crowd which is what matters most in any political contest
Men, women, students, and the youths were well-represented at the declaration.
The APC Leaders in the six local government in the Edo North senatorial district who spoke during the event promised to support to the aspirant to enable him win the party’s ticket.
The APC leaders in Edo North are said to be wondering how a new entrant into the race was able to pull such a large crowd.
With each word spoken, he received loud applause from an enthusiastic crowd that was ready to hear more .
Dr Umakhihe narrated how he had equipped himself for the task of governance, a dream he had nursed for a long time. He spoke about his clout and wealth of experience garnered through working in the various ministries and MDAs as well as close interactions with international organizations, bodies, and partners.
He summed it all up by stating that his wish to serve as governor is built on “service to humanity”, adding under his watch every single Edo citizen will have access to good and decent jobs as well as enhanced living conditions.
Furthermore, while rating himself as the best of the pack for the job, Dr. Umakhihe said he yielded to the pressures from all corners of the world because “voice populi, voice Dei”, meaning that the voice of the people is the voice of God
He urged Edo APC leaders to support his Guber ambition saying he represents the bridge between the old and the new generation.
He also paid tributes to Edo North APC leaders, especially Comrade Adams Oshiomole whom he singled out for praises for thriving in keeping the party intact and strong in the Edo North district despite being in the opposition at the state level.
Political pundits agreed that, Dr Umakhihe charmed his way into the hearts and minds of the crowd of party enthusiasts with his oratory and proven track record as an accomplished civil servant.
Many of them left the venue as converted “apostles”, vowing to spread the gospel to every nook and cranny of the Edo North district
